Photo by Michael S. Gordon / The RepublicanFormer High School of Commerce teacher Willie Vega appears in Springfield District Court Tuesday on charges of striking a school administrator last week.

SPRINGFIELD — Teacher Willie Vega denied charges Tuesday that he assaulted a vice-principal last week at the High School of Commerce

Vega was arraigned in Springfield District Court a short time after school officials announced that he had been fired following an internal investigation into the Dec. 13 incident.

Vega, 44, is accused of assaulting a female vice-principal after receiving a poor performance evaluation. Vega has been on administrative leave since the incident.

Vega denied charges of assault and battery, assault and battery on a public employee and kidnapping at today’s arraignment. Judge Mark Mason said Vega, who was summoned to court, will be released on personal recognizance. His only condition was to stay away from the victim, who has not been publicly identified.

A pretrial hearing was set for Jan. 25.

Vega’s termination is effective as of Tuesday, Springfield Public Schools spokeswoman Azell Cavaan said in a statement issued at 8:23 a.m.

“Springfield Public Schools administrators have notified a nine-year veteran teacher that his employment with the school department has been terminated in connection with last week’s assault against an administrator at the High School of Commerce,“ Cavaan said.

According to Springfield police, Vega became enraged while reading a copy of his evaluation during a Dec. 13 meeting with the vice-principal at the State Street high school. He grabbed the report from the woman, stabbed the document with a pen, then crumpled it up, police said.

“Mr. Vega then stood up and punched the vice principal in the face, causing her to fall from her chair,” Sgt. John M. Delaney said.

The vice-principal attempted to flee from her office, but Vega blocked the door to the room, police said.

The woman managed to call for help on a portable radio. Authorities said she was taken to a local hospital and treated for a face contusion.

Vega refused to answer questions at a school disciplinary hearing about the alleged assault. His decision to remain silent was based on advice from a teacher’s union lawyer, according to Timothy T. Collins, president of the Springfield Education Association.

Collins said Vega had no history of serious disciplinary issues, but he acknowledged that the teacher could be fired for his alleged actions.

A kidnapping charge was added after investigators determined that Vega had held the vice-principal against her will, police said.

Cavaan said Vega had not worked since the alleged assault, allowing school officials time to conduct an internal review of the matter.

The decision to fire Vega was based on the results of that review, which concluded that he struck the vice principal, Cavaan said.